Mop bucket with a planar platform

ABSTRACT

A mop bucket is disclosed that includes an effectively planar platform for allowing a user to squeeze excess fluid from a flat mop by pressing the flat mop against the working surface of the planar platform. The mop bucket comprises a receptacle, a platform, and an access connection. The receptacle comprises a base and upward surrounding outer wall. The platform is raised from the base and entirely within the outer walls of the receptacle. The platform comprises a working surface that is opposite from the base of the receptacle. The access connection connects the working surface of the platform to the receptacle for fluid to pass from the platform into the receptacle. The platform is effectively planar, and the platform is inclined relative to the base.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a mop bucket with a platform. Inparticular, the present invention relates to a mop bucket with aplatform which is effectively planar for squeezing a flat mop.

Mops used for wet cleaning a floor typically include a long handle and aworking head that has an absorbent material. The absorbent material maybe in strips of material extending from the end of the long handle orthe absorbent material may be a planar absorbent sponge material. To useeither, the user will get the absorbent material wet, squeeze excessfluid from the absorbent material, wipe the wet absorbent material overthe floor, flush clean the absorbent material, and repeat.

For strip mops, the wringing element maybe a funnel shaped deviceslidably connected to the handle, or may be a dome shaped wringingbasket, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,557 or U.S. Pat. No.6,530,112. However, these dome shaped wringing baskets are onlyapplicable for strip mops.

For flat mops, the wringing element may be a slidable mechanism that isconnected with the handle, that hinges and squeezes together opposingsides of the flat mop. This type of mop is commonly referred to as abutterfly mop. The mechanism used for a butterfly mop can be difficultto actuate and are prone to break.

SUMMARY

A mop bucket is disclosed that includes an effectively planar platformfor allowing a user to squeeze excess fluid from a flat mop by pressingthe flat mop against the working surface of the planar platform.

In one embodiment, the mop bucket comprises a receptacle, a platform,and an access connection. The receptacle comprises a base and upwardsurrounding outer wall. The platform is raised from the base andentirely within the outer walls of the receptacle. The platformcomprises a working surface that is opposite from the base of thereceptacle. The access connection connects the working surface of theplatform to the receptacle for fluid to pass from the platform into thereceptacle. The platform is effectively planar, and the platform isinclined relative to the base.

In one embodiment, the platform is raised from the base and supported byan inner wall. In one embodiment, the platform is raised from the baseand supported around a perimeter of the surrounding outer wall.

In one embodiment, the platform includes a plurality of raised portions,the peaks of which are effectively planar. In one embodiment, the raisedportions are a plurality of discrete domes. In one embodiment, theraised portions are a plurality of linear ridges.

In one embodiment, the planar platform is parallel with the base, whichis planar.

In one embodiment, the access connection comprises at least one passageon the platform to the receptacle. In one embodiment, the accessconnection comprises a gap between the platform and the surroundingouter wall. In one embodiment, the access connection comprises a gapbetween the platform and at least three of the surrounding outer walls.

In one embodiment, the bucket further comprises a divider wallseparating the receptacle from a second receptacle, which comprises asecond base and a second surrounding outer wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mop bucket;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mop bucket.

While the above-identified drawings and figures set forth embodiments ofthe invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in thediscussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by wayof representation and not limitation. It should be understood thatnumerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by thoseskilled in the art, which fall within the scope and spirit of thisinvention.

The figures may not be drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mop bucket 100. Themop bucket 100 comprises a receptacle 110, a platform 120, and an accessconnection 130. The receptacle 110 comprises a base 111 and projectingupward from the base 111 is a surrounding outer wall 112 so that thereceptacle can hold fluid. In one embodiment, the surrounding outer wall112 may be a single wall that is curved, oval, circular, such as in FIG.2. In another embodiment, the surrounding outer wall 112 may comprisetwo or more outer walls 112, such as shown in FIG. 1. Opposite from thebase 111, the surrounding outer wall 112 forms a perimeter 116.

The platform 120 is raised from the base 111 so that fluid can be heldin the receptacle 110 away from the platform 120. The platform 120 maybe inclined relative to the base 111, to more easily allow for fluid todisperse. In one embodiment, the incline relative to the base 111 is atleast 5 degrees. In one embodiment, the incline relative to the base isat least 20 degrees. In one embodiment, the incline relative to the base111 is less than 60 degrees. In one embodiment, the incline relative tothe base 111 is between 0 and 5 degrees. The platform 120 comprises aworking surface 121 that is the surface of the platform 120 opposite thebase 111. The working surface 121 is the surface that the mop isintended to contact for squeezing excess fluid from the mop. The workingsurface 121 may be planar or may comprise raised portion 126. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of raise portions 126 areincluded on the working surface 121. The peaks of the raised portions126 are themselves planar. The raised portions 126 provides for fluid toeasily disperse away from the working surface 121 and into thereceptacle 110. As shown these raised portions 126 are dome shaped. Itis understood that any number of different sizes or shapes of raisedportions may be includes, such a ridges, cones, or pyramids.

The platform 120 may be permanently or removably connected with thereceptacle 110 in a variety of ways. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,the platform 120 is raised from the base 111 and supported by an innerwall 122. In one embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 1, several innerwalls 122 extend from the base 111 to the platform 120, supporting theplatform 120. In one embodiment, the platform 120 may be hingedlyconnected to the receptacle 110 to allow for open access into the entirereceptable 110.

The access connection 130 connects the working surface 121 of theplatform 120 to the receptacle 110 for fluid to pass from the platform120 into the receptacle 110. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, theaccess connection 130 comprises a gap 132 that is formed between theplatform 120 and the surrounding outer wall 112. The gap 132 may bebetween only a portion of the platform 120 and the surrounding outerwall 112 or may entirely surround the platform 120. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 1, the gap 132 entirely surrounds the platform 120 toprovide easy dispersment of fluid squeezed out of the mop and into thereceptacle 110.

In this embodiment, the mop bucket 100 further comprises a divider 140that separates the receptacle 110 from a second receptacle 150. Thesecond receptacle 150 comprises a second base 151 and second surroundingouter wall 152. Typically, in use, the second receptacle 150 will holdclean fluid and the receptacle 110 will hold the squeezed out, typicallydirty fluid.

As shown the mop bucket 100 includes a receptacle 110, platform 120, andsecond receptacle that are generally triangular shaped. It is understoodthat a variety of shapes and sizes may be use for the mop bucket 100.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mop bucket 200.Similar to the embodiment described in FIG. 1, mop bucket 200 comprisesa receptacle 210, platform 220, access connection 230, and the optionalsecond receptacle 250. In this FIG. 2, a mop 260 is shown that includesa handle 261 and an absorbent working head 262. The platform 220 iseffectively planar and does not include raised portion. The mop bucket200 in FIG. 2 includes a platform 220 that is raised from the base 211,but connects by engagement around an entirety of the perimeter 216 ofthe receptacle 210. The platform 220 is essentially flat, or parallelwith the base 211. As shown the platform 220 covers the entirereceptacle 210. Therefore, distinguishing the embodiment of FIG. 1 fromthe embodiment of FIG. 2, the access connection 230 comprises a passage231 through the working surface 221 of the platform 220 to allow fluidto pass from the working surface 221 into the receptacle 210.

The disclosed mop buckets provide an easy and effective means ofsqueezing excess fluid from a flat mop that comprises an absorbent,planar working head for cleaning floors. Instead of includingcomplicated squeezing mechanisms on the mop, the planar surface andaccess connection of the bucket allow a user to easily apply pressure tothe mop to squeeze excess fluid and collect the fluid in the receptacle.

Although specific embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it is understood that these embodiments are merelyillustrative of the many possible specific arrangements that can bedevised in application of the principles of the invention. Numerous andvaried other arrangements can be devised in accordance with theseprinciples by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the presentinvention should not be limited to the structures described in thisapplication, but only by the structures described by the language of theclaims and the equivalents of those structures.

1. A mop bucket comprising: a receptacle comprising a base and upwardsurrounding outer wall; a platform raised from the base and entirelywithin the outer walls of the receptacle, wherein the platform comprisesa working surface that is opposite from the base of the receptacle; anaccess connection connecting the working surface of the platform to thereceptacle for fluid to pass from the platform into the receptacle;wherein the platform is effectively planar; and wherein the platform isinclined relative to the base.
 2. The mop bucket of claim 1, wherein thereceptacle comprises at least three surrounding outer walls.
 3. The mopbucket of claim 1, wherein the platform is raised from the base andsupported by an inner wall.
 4. The mop bucket of claim 1, wherein theplatform is raised from the base and supported by at least three innerwalls.
 5. The mop bucket of claim 1, wherein the platform is raised fromthe base and supported around a perimeter of the surrounding outer wall.6. The mop bucket of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a pluralityof raised portions, the peaks of which are effectively planar.
 7. Themop bucket of claim 1, wherein the raised portions are a plurality ofdiscrete domes.
 8. The mop bucket of claim 1, wherein the raisedportions are a plurality of linear ridges.
 9. The mop bucket of claim 1,wherein the planar platform is parallel with the base, which is planar.10. The mop bucket of claim 1, wherein the access connection comprisesat least one passage from the platform to the receptacle.
 11. The mopbucket of claim 1, wherein the access connection comprises a pluralityof passages from the platform to the receptacle.
 12. The mop bucket ofclaim 1, wherein the access connection comprises a gap between theplatform and the surrounding outer wall.
 13. The mop bucket of claim 1,wherein the access connection comprises a gap between the platform andat least three of the surrounding outer walls.
 14. The mop bucket ofclaim 1, further comprising a divider wall separating the receptaclefrom a second receptacle, which comprises a second base and a secondsurrounding outer wall.
 15. The mop bucket of claim 1, wherein theplatform is hingedly connected to the receptacle.